Surname Tönniss - Meaning and Origin
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Tönniss: What does the surname Tönniss mean?
The last name Tönniss is of German origin. The name is derived from the personal name Antonius, which was popular in medieval Germany and was in use as both a given name and a family name. The family name Tönniss is most often found in the former German regions of Westfalen and Pomerania, though it can also be found in the Netherlands and other parts of Western Europe.
The meaning of the name is thought to be derived from the Latin element 'antonius' meaning 'beyond praise' or 'invaluable', and thus the surname is usually interpreted as meaning 'the valuable one'. In some cases, the name may also reflect a localized meaning, such as 'tönn', meaning 'valuable stone' or 'precious item'.
The Tönniss family is believed to have first established its roots in the former German regions of Westfalen and Pomerania in the Middle Ages. From here, the family spread to the Netherlands and other parts of western Europe. Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved, with its current English spelling, 'Tönniss', being the most common.
Today, the Tönniss family is still found in Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Western Europe. However, the family has also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisTönniss: Where does the name Tönniss come from?
The last name Tönniss is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. It is believed to have originated in Germany in the 15th century, but due to migrations and emigrations over the years, it is now found in many other parts of the world as well.
The name is a patronymic, or a name derived from that of the father or ancestor. It is most likely derived from the medieval personal name "Tönno" which in turn is derived from the Old High German given name "Tuozzo," meaning "dominion, power, might." Examples of this name can be seen in records of German nobility where Tönnis appears as a form of the given name "Tuozzo"; one record of this is a 1292 court case where it is cited in the record as "Touzus de Ploetzkirch".
In more recent times, Tönniss appears in Berlin registers from 1820 onwards. Today, the Tönniss surname is mostly found in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking areas. However, due to historical migrations, people bearing the name have also spread to other parts of Europe and to North America. For example, in the United States, most people bearing the surname are descendants of German, Swiss, and Austrian immigrants who came to Wisconsin in the first half of the 19th century.
Thus, the Tönniss surname is today found in many countries across the world, its distribution likely tracing the same paths that many German and Austrian immigrants have taken over the years.
Variations of the surname Tönniss
The surname Tönniss is an occupational name which first originated in the Germanic region. This surname was most likely derived from the Old German word "Tonna" which means "fence". This family name is usually spelled with the ö and double s (Tönniss), but it may also be seen as Tonniss, Töns, Toenniss, Tönisch and Tonnies.
Variations of the surname Tönniss have also been seen in nearby countries, including Switzerland and Austria. In Switzerland, it is more commonly seen as Tönnies, Tönnis, Töni and Toenness. In Austria, it can also be seen as Tonys and Tonisz.
Other Middle High German variations of the name include: Töning, Tönnig, Tönnes, Tönes, Tonis, Tonisch, Tönig, Toning, Tenney, and Tonney.
The surname has spread worldwide throughout many countries aside from its Germanic roots. Such countries include England, Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
This surname can also often be seen as part of a compound name, such as Tönniss-Eggers, in which the second part of the name could refer to a geographic or even an additional occupational origin.
Famous people with the name Tönniss
- Johannes Tönniss, a German founder of a known fashion company.
- Paulo Tönniss, a German professional football player.
- Adolf Tönniss, a German master mechanic from the 19th century who created several well-known inventions.
- Detlev Tönniss, a German sculptor from the 20th century.
- Bowie Tönniss, an Austrian-born painter and illustrator.
- Margareta Tönniss, a 19th-century German ballerina who performed in many renowned dance performances.
- Christine Tönniss, an independent filmmaker and artist who has won numerous awards.
- Bernd Tönniss, a German businessman and founder of several successful health and wellness companies.
- Ludwig Tönniss, an inventor and entrepreneur from the 19th century who developed several groundbreaking technologies.
- Moritz Tönniss, a German politician and theorist who led the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1927-1933.